Peel-Harvey Catchment Council puts on bird-watching session for locals at Lake Yalgorup

Key Biodiversity Area program manager from Bird Life Australia Golo Maurer logging his observations using Birdata.

A GROUP of bird enthusiasts and curious community members visited Lake Yalgorup to discover more about the wetland and its migratory and resident bird populations.

About 13 local community members shared an early September morning with Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC) specialists, BirdLife Australia and the Mandurah Bird Observers Group members at Lake Yalgorup for a “Walk and Talk”.

The group braved wet weather to spend hours bird-watching before a morning tea information session on the value of bird-watching survey data.

The event was organised to introduce residents from Mandurah and the broader catchment area to bird-watching, and connect them with experienced bird-watchers.

PHCC member Andy Gulliver said Yalgorup Lake was a part of the Peel-Yalgorup System, a wetland of international importance.

“The ecologically diverse site is recognised for its migratory and wetland birds, and PHCC is pleased to assist in connecting residents with an opportunity to learn about this unique environment and try their hand at bird-watching,” he said.

“Bird monitoring plays a crucial part in conserving this special area.

“We are thrilled to be able to introduce new people to these groups and to the many opportunities for them to play a role in citizen science projects that make a valuable contribution to the conservation of the Peel-Yalgorup Wetland.”